Extension-foot for ladders, &amp; c.



No.'742,288. I PATENTED 001. 27, 1903. T. L. CHARLES.

EXTENSION FOOT FOR LADDERS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1 0a.

H0 MODEL.

'fPatented October 2'7, 190s.

TRUEMAN L. CHARLES, OF ELM VALLEY, NEW YORK. I

EXTENSION-FOOT FOR LADDERS, 86G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,288, dated October27,1903; Application filed August 8,1903. Serial No. 168,791. c meta.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TRUEMAN L. CHARL S,

to the accompanying drawin gs, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to newand useful improvements in anextension-foot for ladders,

850., and for hoisting and holding various other devices; and itconsists in the provision ofa rack or frame having an extension shaft,which is provided with a rack-bar along one of its marginal edges, andthe provision of a pinion suitably mounted in the frame and engaging theteeth of the rack-bar, whereby the extension-shaft may be movedlongitudinally.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction,combinations, and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

My invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1. is a view showing the device as applied to the end ofa'ladder. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the extension member.Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a slight modification of the inventionadapting the same for hoisting and supporting an object; and Fig. 4 isan edge view of the apparatus, showing the flange at the bottom of theboard adapted to engage under thebottom of the ladder. Fig. 5 isacross-sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. 7

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a board which has guide-strips 13 mounted thereon, the inneredges of which are preferably inclined, forming a dovetailed slotintermediate the same for the reception of the sh aft D,

which has its opposite walls beveled. Grosspieces 0 connect the outerfaces of the guidestrips B, and set-screws E arecarriedin threadedapertures in the cross-pieces G and are'providedforthe" purpose ofengaging frictionally the outer face of the extensionshaft D to hold thesame in any adjusted The handle D is secured to said shaft, whereby thelatter may be raised and lowered in adjusting the, same. One end of theshaft D has a head H, as shown in Fig; l'of the drawings, with spurs IIprojecting from one end thereof, designed to engage the earth or anyobject for the purpose of preventing the shaft from slipping. Said headH'has shoulders I, which are inclined and adapted to contact with thebeveled ends J of the guide-strips B to limit the inner throw of theshaft.

Along one of the marginal edges of the shaft D is a rack-bar K, and Ndesignates a pinion-wheel mounted upon a shaft j ournaled in one of thestrips B, and said pinion is in mesh with the teeth of said rackbar. Acrank N, forming a part of the shaft on which the pinion is mounted,serves as means whereby the pinion.,.may,be rotated for the purpose ofextending-Ivor closing" the shaft. After the shaft has been adjusted inproper position the set-screws are tightened and the shaft held in suchposition.

- In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have. shown a different application of"myinvention, in which the upper ends of the guide-strips are position.

formed into a head 'I, with radial spurs pro- I jecting therefrom, andadapted to engage an object to be hoisted and held in a raised positionfor various purposes.

While I have shown a particular construction of apparatus illustratingmy mechanism, it will be understood that I may make alterations in thedetailed construction with out departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus fully. described my invention, I

what I claim as new, anddesire "to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An extensible supporting device for stepladders, 85c, comprising plateshaving guidestrips secured to one face thereof, straps connecting andsecured to ning the space intermediate the same, the

said strips and spanouter ends of said strips being inclined, an Intestimony whereof I hereunto aflix my extensible member positionedbetween said signature in presence of two Witnesses. strips and havinginclined shoulders adapted i to fit against the inclined ends of thestrips, TRUEMAN LHARLES' 5 one end of said plate being provided, on itsre- Witnesses:

verse side, with an extension adapted to en- DARRELL S. CHARLES,

gage the end of a ladder, as set forth. JEREMIAH DRISOOLL.

